Development Pamoja Ltd

As the sun sets on 2025, we’d like to thank everyone who supported us over the past year. A special thanks as well to all those we work with in Kenya — without your involvement and trust, our work wouldn’t have any meaning.

2025 saw us lose a few too many close friends, both here in Kenya and back in Ireland. They and their families are in our thoughts as the year comes to a close.

Wishing everyone connected with DP a happy New Year.

Today is Jamhuri Day in Kenya, a day that quite literally means “Republic Day” and marks Kenya's hard-won independence. It’s also the beginning of the Christmas season.

While our work is centred on helping people become self-sufficient, some of those we work with are among the most vulnerable in society. Each Christmas, we prepare food hampers for the elderly and for people with disabilities.

Like every year, we want to extend our heartfelt thanks to CASA in Ireland, and to Rachel Irungu and friends, for helping us gather food and clothing for the disabled community. For the elderly, we rely on the monthly donations from all of you who give regularly and for that, we are truly grateful.

It wouldn’t be right to show the people who receive these parcels, so instead here are a few photos of our joint CEO, Karanja Mawe, lending a hand as our wonderful driver, Daniel, loads up the tractor.

Happy Jamhuri Day to all in Kenya.

We recently held an open day on our demonstration farm, giving local farmers a chance to see first-hand the benefits of forage-based systems for dairy farming. The day was part of our ongoing work with the Dairy Kenya–Ireland Project, and we’re very grateful to our partners Self Help Africa, KALRO, and Baraka College for the support they afforded to us on the day.

A big thank-you as well to Renny from Land O’Lakes, and to Jorum and Geoffrey from Tulaga Farmers’ Cooperative, for joining us and sharing their insights. And of course, sincere thanks to all the farmers who took the time to come along.

Most of all, we want to acknowledge the two DP team members who made the day happen.
Cosmos Tolol, who has been with us just over a year, has already become a real asset to the organisation.
And Mzee Nicholas Nyaoma, our farm extension officer for the past six years, whose commitment to helping farmers build a dignified income in tough, semi-arid conditions is nothing short of inspiring. Nicholas consistently goes above and beyond in his work, and we are incredibly lucky to have him on our team.

Thank you both—and thanks to everyone who helped make the day such a success.

We were delighted to welcome Dr. Bernadette O'Brien of Teagasc and Dr. Deirdre Hennessy of University College Cork to Development Pamoja last week. The name might be a give away but Deirdre also happens to be James's sister and we were very proud for her to see our work. Both Bernadette and Deirdre also visited other project partners in the Dairy Kenya project, namely the Kenya Agriculture and Livestock Organistion and Tulagaa Cooperative. Many thanks to Michael and Collins of Self Help Africa for coordinating the trip.
A special word for the staff of Baraka College and in particular their principal Pamela Nasimiyu and Dr. John King'au. Baraka hosted all members of this dairy project despite suffering an immeasurable loss last week. Rest in Peace Br. Tony Dolan. Everyone who works in agriculture in Nakuru County is aware of the immense impact you had on farming communities. You also had a profound impact on Development Pamoja. Above all you were a friend and we will miss you terribly. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anam.